DUBUS magazine is an international amateur radio magazine intended for the serious VHF and up operator. Published in Germany, it is fully bilingual - English and German). There are four issues a year, each of over 100 A5 pages which are devoted to a mix of state-of-the-art technical articles and DX operating news.

Pine, ZS6OB (pienaarja@gmail.com) is the South African representative for DUBUS and you can contact him to get the magazine. It costs R389 for the four issues of 2019. Do it before 1 March 2019.

AMATEUR RADIO TODAY, a weekly actuality programme about Amateur Radio and technology hosted by Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV Download/Listen .

More details about Today's programmehere. Transmission times and frequency details click here. In the programme today: The cost of a dB on 2 metres (part 1)

Es’hail 2 geostationary Satellite Operational - Since launch the Satellite has been in test mode. The satellite has been named QO-100 and has been available for amateur use since 12 February.

Rickus ZS4A was able to receive the Satellite on Wednesday evening 13 February. Rickus writes “After week of searching for a beacon signal with no luck, on the evening of the 13 February at last with SSB activity for the first time signals were heard and seen on the waterfall.

Book now for the AMSATSA Space symposium and be part of a life demonstration of Es'hailsat and learn how to constuct a low budget ground station. get details here

THE SOLAR WIND IS HERE - Earth's polar magnetic field is unsettled today, 14 February as our planet passes through a stream of solar wind blowing faster than 500 km/s. The gaseous material is coming from a southern hole in the sun's atmosphere.

BIG ACTIVITY ON THE SUN -A gigantic filament of plasma is dancing along the northwestern edge of the sun, rising more than 150,000 km above the solar surface. How large is that? It's fully 1/10th of the sun's diameter and almost a dozen times taller than our entire planet. Click to view a 2-day movie from NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory:

This is called a "hedgerow prominence." Hot glowing plasma inside the structure is held aloft by unstable magnetic fields. If the magnetic support collapses, plasma can fall back to the solar surface, exploding in a Hyder flare--a type of solar flare that can occur with no underlying sunspot.

NASA and Japanese space telescopes have taken high resolution images of similar prominences and seen some amazing things such as (1) tadpole-shaped plumes that float up from the base of the prominence; (2) narrow streams of plasma that descend from the top like waterfalls; and (3) swirls and vortices that resemble van Gogh's Starry Night.

SARL responds to ICASA Draft Conformity Assessment Framework for equipment authorisation - The SARL has submitted its response to draft Conformity Assessment Framework which is aimed at simplifying type approval and paving the way forward for the development of an exemption from type approval protocol.The document can be downloaded from (http://www.sarl.org.za/public/ICASA/ICASA_Update.asp)

Register now for 2019 AMSAT SA Space Symposium - Book now for the 2019 AMSAT SA Space Symposium. The symposium will be held on 16 March 2019 at the Premier Midrand Hotel. This is a new venue with better facilities and surroundings. The rate remains at R400 per person for AMSAT SA and SARL members and R600 for non-members. There is an early bird rate of R350 for AMSAT SA and SARL Members if booked and paid for by 28 February 2019. Accommodation is also available at the hotel at R1150 for room only. The registration includes refreshments and eats on arrival, mid-morning and afternoon tea and coffee with eats and a buffet lunch. More details on www.amsatsa.org.za.

Bookings made and paid for by 15 February will go into a public draw at the conference for a ARRL Satellite Handbook.

Attendance qualifes you fot 1 CPD point

RADIO ZS - The February 2019 Radio ZSis available for download - Click on Publications and then on Radio ZS download.

2019/2020 Amateur Radio License fee increase

ICASA has informed the SARL that the licence fee will be increased by 4,7% on 1 April 2019. The new fees will be

1 Year - R 148.00

2 Year - R 283.00

3 Year - R 406.00

4 Year - R 517.00

5 Year - R 617.00

ICASA will start the invoicing process for the 2019/2020 period from 4 February 2019. Radio Amateurs are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure their license is up to date. If for some reason no invoice is received, check that ICASA has been informed of any address changes.

Avoid the hassles of having to renew each year, opt for a multi-year licence. Simply, when renewing pay the appropriate amount. On the EFT state 5 Year licence and your callsign. Also send an email to dkuhrau@icasa.org.za with a copy of the EFT payment.

ICASA Licence Fees - DO NOT pay the ICASA licence fee into the SARL bank account, all moneys wrongfully paid into the SARL account will be refunded less the bank charges associated with these transactions.

VHF, UHF and Microwave Record Table - the latest table of records is available from the VHF SA Record page. Click here to get a copy. Compiled and updated by Paul, ZS6NK - latest version 2 February 2019. Updates to zssixnk@gmail.com

INVITATION TO THE 2019 SARL DAY OF THE RADIO AMATEUR - In terms of Rule 11 of the Rules of the South African Radio League, you are formally invited to attend the 2019 SARL Day of the Radio Amateur that will take place over the weekend of 12 to 14 April 2019 at the Datavoice House Auditorium and the Protea Hotel by Marrottt in the Techno Park, Stellenbosch and the Stellenbosch Golf Club. The Boland Amateur Radio Club (BARC) is hosting the 2019 SARL AGM and the Annual Awards Dinner. For more details about the AGM, motions and nominations for council visit the Member’s Only Page. Click on the button at the top right of this page. More details about the Technical symposium will be posted soon.

LOW SUNSPOTS TRY 16O M, you cannot be without this book - ON4UN's Low Band DXing - Dozens of new propagation maps based on DX Atlas, as well as an in-depth analysis of the influence of sunspot cycles on 160-metre ducting. A new discussion of cutting edge technology including Software Defined Radio and the revolutionary LP-500 Digital Station Monitor. Chapters include

Propagation

DXing on the Low Bands

Receiving and Transmitting Equipment

Antenna Design Software

Antennas: General, Terms, Definitions

The Feed Line and the Antenna

Receiving Antennas

The Dipole Antenna

Vertical Antennas

Large Loop Antennas

Phased Arrays

Other Arrays

Yagis and Quads

Low Band DXing from a Small Garden

From Low Band DXing to Contesting

CD-ROM included! The CD-ROM includes the entire book in a fully searchable PDF format as well as ON4UN’s software (Windows XP only), antenna modeling files, photographs and more. Now R950. Delivery via Postnet R120. Special offer for September and October 2019 free postnet delivery

2019 Advertising in Radio ZS and the SARL Web site

Radio ZS and the SARL web welcomes advertising. It is a source of information for readers. Send your advertisement for the League website to Hans, ZS6AKV at artoday@sarl.org.zaand for Radio ZS to Dennis, ZS4BS at radiozs@sarl.org.za.

Burundi, 9U. Shabu, M0KRI, is now in Burundi and is expected to be on the air as 9U4RI until 25 February. He will be in Bujumbura City until 18 February and spend the remaining 7 days away from the civilization in the Heha Mountains. Activity will be on 40 - 10 meters including the WARC-79 bands, using CW, SSB, and PSK31. His equipment consists of an ICOM 706Mk2G and a Kenwood TS-480SAT into Spiderbeam. QSL via M0KRI, direct, LoTW and ClubLog.

Senegal, 6W. Willy, ON4AVT will be active gain as 6W7/ON4AVT from Senegal between 20 February to 30 March. He will operate PSK, CW, SSB and possibly FT8 on various bands, 60 metres included. QSL via home call, bureau preferred.

The Gambia, C5. Don, G3XTT will be active as C56DF from the Gambia between 5 and 12 March. Main activity will be during the RSGB Commonwealth Contest (9 and 10 March), but he hopes to do some operating also before and after the contest. This will be a CW only operation, low power with wires from a rooftop apartment. It is unlikely there will be space for 80 or 160 m antennas. QSL via LoTW, Club Log's OQRS or direct to home call.

Lampedusa Island, IG. A team from ARI Modena will be active as IG9MO from Lampedusa Island (AF-019) from 28 March to 2 April. They will operate on SSB, CW and digital modes on the HF bands and will participate in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest. QSL via IK4ALM.

Turkey, TC10. Members of the Giresun Amateur Radio Society (GITRAD - Giresun Telsiz Radyo Amatorleri ve Doga Sporlari Dernegi) are celebrating its 10th anniversary with the special callsign TC10GITRAD. It will be on the air until 31 December 2019. The log will be uploaded to eQSL and LoTW regularly. For any mis-copied callsigns, please send an e-mail to TA7AZC (QRZ.com). No cards are required and if you need a hardcopy QSL card, please send it direct to TA7AZC (w/SASE + 3GS).

New Caledonia, FK. Arnaud, JG1XMV will be active again as FK/JG1XMV from New Caledonia between 23 February and 10 March. He will operate SSB on 40 to 15 metres from the main island of Grande Terre (OC-032), with "a good chance of spending a few days" on Mare Island (OC-033). Updates will be posted on qrz.com under FK/JG1XMV. QSL via JG1XMV (direct or bureau), LoTW and eQSL.

Kanton Island DXpedition News, T31EU. Just a reminder that the T31EU team from Kanton Island (OC-043) will be active between 16 February and 5 March. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and some FT8. QSL via DL2AWG or ClubLog's OQRS. For more details and updates, see http://www.kanton2019.de

There is no tutorial this week, but we have some really exciting news about the VHF and Above bands.

By now everyone should have heard about the Es’hail 2 geostationary Satellite. Since launch the Satellite has been in test mode. The satellite has been named QO-100 and has been available for amateur use since 12 February. Who has been able to work the satellite so far?

Well, Rickus ZS4A was able to receive the Satellite on Wednesday evening 13 February. Rickus writes “After week of searching for a beacon signal with no luck, on the evening of the 13th of Feb at last with SSB activity for the first time signals were heard and seen on the waterfall.

A 1 metre dish was first used but something was wrong and I took the LNB off the 1 metre dish and mounted it on its original dish 50% smaller than the bigger one. My first signals were picked up through my shack window and then I quickly went outside in the rain with the dish mounted on a tripod. I used my laptop with a SDR dongle and SDR – SHARP software.

I built a DC injector or bias-tee to provide power over 75 Ohm TV coax and a 500mm Oval DSTV dish.

The LNB is a high stability DSTV LNB that’s local oscillator was changed from somewhere around 10 000 MHz to 9358 MHz by Leon ZS1MM.

The signals were really strong and easy to receive and listen to on USB. CW can also be received easily.

Now that it works I will try a bigger dish to see how strong I can get the signals which are currently around -5 dB to -1 dB + on the small dish. This dish works 100%, but I am still itching to receive a better signal.

I think I am the first guy in SA to receive this Sat on a dish.”

Well done Rickus, it was fantastic to watch the video that you recorded. The video is available on the SARL homepage. Here is the video.

I asked Rickus when he will be ready to transmit to the satellite and he said that it would still be a while as there are other EME stuff he still needed to construct and that Es’Hail 2 would need to wait it’s turn. Well, I don’t know about that. I think the excitement of being able to receive that satellite is going to give the Es’Hail 2 transmission a higher priority. Rickus also tells me that he has already heard SSB, CW, JT65 an other digital modes on the satellite.

Come to the AMSAT SA Space Symposium on Saturday 16 March and listen to Hannes ZS6BZP telling you how to set up a ground station without breaking the bank. Hannes plans to give a live demonstration as well.

You can listen to the satellite’s narrowband transponder from anywhere in the world by using the online WebSDR developed by members of AMSAT-UK and BATC which is located at Goonhilly in Cornwall, UK. Go to

Willem ZS6WAB is experimenting with an 8 m Beacon on 40.675 MHz into a 5 element Yagi. 30 W into 7/8th coax. The Yagi is 18m up and pointing South. Please listen out for the beacon and provide Willem with feedback on the forum.

Peter ZS2ABF reports that while the RF conditions were good along the South East coast on Monday the 11th, the weather was not and they cut their QSO short due to the lightening.

The 46 Long Distance Group who are active on VHF and UHF here in the centre of the country are actually pretty well organised. They have worked out a schedule that they use over weekends to make sure that they are active on all the popular VHF and above bands.

The first weekend of the month they operate on 2 m SSB and then later in the day the Gauteng stations move to FM on 145.500 MHz.

The second weekend they operate on 70 cm SSB and CW.

On the third weekend they operate on 23 cm SSB and CW as well as 6 m.

The fourth weekend you will find them operating the digital modes (PSK, RTTY, FT8 and SSTV) on all bands.

If any of the above fail then they fall back to SSB on 144.300 MHz. You will also hear CW during their QSOs. This is because when they cannot hear each other on SSB they can still hear each other on CW.

During the week they are on the air on 144.300 MHz SSB from 06:00 to 07:00 local time. Beacons are checked and reports on conditions are exchanged. Aircraft scatter is used extensively to make contact with weaker stations.

Evening activities are from 20:00 to 21:00 local time.

If you are not proficient in CW, then don’t worry. Learning on the air is a good place to start, even if you can only send or receive at 5 words per minute.

Tuesday and Thursday evenings are CW nights. SSB will be used in between to explain what was sent and received.

Evenings are ideal in the summer months to experiment with lightning scatter.

South African Radio League National Field Day: Aim: To work as many stations as possible on all the HF amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17 and 12 m bands). In doing so, to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. Date and Times:10:00 UTC on Saturday 9 February to 10:00 UTC on Sunday 10 February 2019. Frequencies and Modes: HF amateur bands, excluding the 2 200, 630, 30, 17 and 12 metre bands. Phone, CW and Digital (PSK, FT8 and RTTY). Phone, CW and Digital modes on a band are considered as separate bands. A station may be worked only once per band under this rule. (See Blue Book for more details)

ARRL Inter. DX Contest, CW:Aim: W/VE amateurs work as many DX stations in as many DXCC entities as possible on the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands. DX stations work as many W/VE stations in as many of the 48 contiguous states and provinces as possible.Date and Contest Period: Third full weekend in February (February 16-17, 2019). 0000 UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx

South African Radio League RTTY Contest: Aim. To establish as many contacts as possible between radio amateurs in Southern Africa using the RTTY mode. The contest is open to all radio amateurs in Southern Africa. Date and Time: 14:00 UTC to 17:00 UTC on Sunday 24 February 2019. Bands: 80M (3 580 to 3 600 kHz), 40M (7 040 to 7 060 kHz), 20M (14 070 to 14 099 kHz). RTTY is preferred at the upper end of the specified frequencies. Contacts: A station may be contacted once on each band. Exchange: RST report and your grid square (first 4 digits) e.g. KG33. (See Blue Book for more details)

General engineering, part remanufacturing turning, milling, drilling.Specialised welding of steel, stainless steel, aluminium and cast iron.Gear repair and remanufacturing.Prototype industrial and automotive parts and brackets made to specification, Heavy duty antenna support and Mobile brackets including standoff brackets and antenna parts manufactured.Tower and tower part repairs also undertaken. Contact Willie Wright ZS6WC.0823351356. zs6wc@vodamail.co.za

Place your commercial hamads on the home page. Book a six months space for R300 or 12 months at R500 prepaid with order The advertisements will be text only up to 60 words including address, telephone number and click through URL to advertisers' website and email address. Adverisement can be changed Send your contact details to admin@sarl.org.za and we will contact you or call the NARC at 011 675 2393

Radio Amateurs, or "Hams" use two-way radio communication to make contact with other radio amateurs all over the world. They are even able to use satellites and on occasion speak with astronauts. Radio Hams can do this from home or while mobile in cars, boats or on foot.

Radio Hams have a full range or communication modes at their disposal. These include plain voice, Morse code, numerous digital computer modes and even graphical modes like television. As a licensed amateur radio operator you will be able to join in experiments using all these modes.

Amateur radio can be enjoyed by young and old, male and female, even the most severely disabled can make friends around the world from their own home. This hobby knows no boundaries.

The
entry level for the WAZS award is 100 different call signs. The
programme has recently been expanded to include higher level
endorsements, such as WAZS-200, WAZS-300, etc. Endorsements may
also be obtained for specific modes, eg: CW, SSB, etc.
Click
here for more
information...SA
Maritime Net

The
South African Maritime Mobile Net provides weather reports and
maintains contact with sailing vessels from around the coast and
high seas.
The net operates 7 days a week.